About Us

























Our History
The funeral home started in the 1880’s by Claus Salomon. It changed ownership around the turn of the century but continued in operation under the ownership of J.N Schnoor. The location of operation changed when J.N. Schnoor built the original and existing building on the corner of Broadway and 15th St. just a block and a half east of where it began. That building still stands with modifications and additions that began in 1936 when Walter A. Huebner purchased the funeral home from his employer J.N. Schnoor. Previously, three generations of Huebner’s had been funeral directors at the funeral home before the retirement of Walter R. “Butch” Huebner and Dennis Huebner. Michael Hoy purchased the funeral home in August of 2020 and he and his staff are continuing to serve the Denison community and surrounding towns of Crawford County with a tradition of honesty, integrity and dignity.
Our Team

Mike Hoy
Funeral Director & Embalmer
My career in funeral service began when I was fourteen years old. I began working for a family owned funeral home in Council Bluffs in the spring of 1992.
Mike Hoy
My career in funeral service began when I was fourteen years old. I began working for a family owned funeral home in Council Bluffs in the spring of 1992. Everyday after school and throughout the summer I would ride my bicycle to the funeral home. I would wash cars, care for the lawn and help with other duties. A couple of summers later, once I had a driver’s license, my role changed significantly. I began driving to the cemetery and helping on all of the services and during evening visitations. I became so passionate about funeral service that I found my early life revolved around working at the funeral home.
Life for me has always been about service to others. While attending college, the owners of the funeral home sold their ownership to a national firm and there was no room for me after this acquisition. Seeking service to others, I took a job with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office as a corrections officer and that led to being promoted as a deputy sheriff. Eventually, I was hired by the Iowa Department of Public Safety. During my 10 year career, I served in the Division of Criminal Investigations and as a state trooper with the Iowa State Patrol.
I found my time serving in law enforcement personally rewarding, especially the helping others in my community, my passion for helping families with funeral service never was silenced. During my time with the Iowa State Patrol, I was able to complete my education as a funeral director and for a few years I worked two jobs. I worked as a trooper on the midnight shift and as funeral director/mortician during the day.
In August of 2011, my family and I opened Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home and in August of 2020, I purchased Huebner Funeral Home; this is an extension of my life in service to all of you.

Danielle Sondag Mikels
Funeral Director & Embalmer
Danielle Sondag Mikels found her interest in funeral service at a young age. She started working at a funeral home at the age of 15; helping with evening visitations and weekend services.
Danielle Sondag Mikels
Danielle Sondag Mikels found her interest in funeral service at a young age. She started working at a funeral home at the age of 15; helping with evening visitations and weekend services.
At the age of 17, she enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard. Danielle graduated high school in 2009. She enjoyed every opportunity traveling within the United States for various military training purposes and served her country for a total of six years.
In 2014, Danielle graduated with her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha. She always carried her passion for the funeral industry with her. After the death of a very close friend, she dealt with her first loss as an adult. Danielle had faced the pain that she’d seen in so many others. She chose to modify her career path and enrolled at Des Moines Area Community College; and graduated with her Mortuary Science degree in 2016. Danielle has since been working as a funeral director and values every day she has to do so.

Katie L. Fitzsimmons
Funeral Director & Embalmer
Katie Fitzsimmons is a first-generation funeral director and a native of Guthrie Center, Iowa. She attended Guthrie Center High School and graduated with the class of 2011.Â
Katie L. Fitzsimmons
Katie Fitzsimmons is a first-generation funeral director and a native of Guthrie Center, Iowa. She attended Guthrie Center High School and graduated with the class of 2011. After graduation, Katie received a certified nursing assistant diploma and worked for Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids, Iowa for many years.Â
In 2013, Katie suffered the loss of her fiancé in a car accident and she switched her career focus from nursing to becoming a funeral director. She graduated from Des Moines Area Community College with her Associate’s Degree in General Education in 2016 and Mortuary Science degree in 2017.
Katie was working as a Funeral Director at Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home in Council Bluffs, Iowa before transitioning to Huebner Funeral Home.Â
After losing a loved one herself, Katie acknowledges the true gift in honoring a life well lived. She is very dedicated to her profession and is committed to provide impeccable care and respect to each and every family.
Katie is married to her husband, Matthew and they have a daughter, Lilah and son, Holsten.

Burke Johnson
Funeral Director & Embalmer
Burke Johnson has been licensed in Iowa since 1997. He and his wife Boni have three sons, Jackson, Nathan, and Ryan.Â
Burke Johnson
Burke Johnson has been licensed in Iowa since 1997. He and his wife Boni have three sons, Jackson, Nathan, and Ryan. Â

Tina Bartelson
Pre-Arrangement Consultant
Tina Bartelson resides outside Irwin with her husband and their three children.Â
Tina Bartelson
Tina Bartelson resides outside Irwin with her husband and their three children. She has been a licensed Iowa and Nebraska funeral director for over 10 years. In the last year, she has become an advocate in helping families in Denison and in the surrounding communities in pre-arranging funeral services for themselves and loved ones. She looks forward to being a part of the professional and compassionate services that Huebner Funeral Homes provides for families.
Debra Hansen
Debra Hansen started working for Ohde Funeral Home in March of 1996. She has a Cosmetology Degree and Associates Degree from DMACC.  Some of her duties include filing death certificates, paperwork of decedents, managing the phones, and day to day things to keep the office running smoothly.  She also maintains her Cosmetology License and styles decedent's hair when needed. In her spare time Deb enjoys spending time with her family, scrap booking, bicycling, and gardening.

Kim Ahart
Office Manager
Michelle Meyer
Michelle Meyer has been our part time office assistant since 2005. Michelle performs all aspects of office work and helps with our computer applications. She completes most of our video applications as well as assisting during visitations. She and her husband Bill live in Manning and have four grown children and two grandchildren.

Austin Schechinger
Maintenance Manager/Funeral Assistant
Austin Schechinger
Austin has lived in Shelby and Crawford Counties most of his life. He has over 10 years of funeral home experience; he started working at a funeral home in high school by washing cars, assisting with funerals, helping out where needed and he has loved it ever since! He and his wife, Danielle, have three children, Hansen, Emma and Ella.
Kathy Kraus
Kathy Kraus started working for Ohde Funeral Home in 2008 and is our maintenance person for all our locations. In addition, Kathy assists the funeral directors at funerals.Â

Gorden Petersen
Funeral Assistant
Michelle Meyer
Michelle Meyer has been our part time office assistant since 2005. Michelle performs all aspects of office work and helps with our computer applications. She completes most of our video applications as well as assisting during visitations. She and her husband Bill live in Manning and have four grown children and two grandchildren.

Ron Lechtenberg
Funeral Assistant
Michelle Meyer
Michelle Meyer has been our part time office assistant since 2005. Michelle performs all aspects of office work and helps with our computer applications. She completes most of our video applications as well as assisting during visitations. She and her husband Bill live in Manning and have four grown children and two grandchildren.

Dennis Gierstorf
Funeral Assistant
Kathy Kraus
Kathy Kraus started working for Ohde Funeral Home in 2008 and is our maintenance person for all our locations. In addition, Kathy assists the funeral directors at funerals.Â

Jim Quandt
Funeral Assistant
Michelle Meyer
Michelle Meyer has been our part time office assistant since 2005. Michelle performs all aspects of office work and helps with our computer applications. She completes most of our video applications as well as assisting during visitations. She and her husband Bill live in Manning and have four grown children and two grandchildren.

Virgil Johnson
Funeral Assistant
Kathy Kraus
Kathy Kraus started working for Ohde Funeral Home in 2008 and is our maintenance person for all our locations. In addition, Kathy assists the funeral directors at funerals.Â

Sue Bergamo
Funeral Assistant